Pillay says Egypt moving in wrong direction

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 8 (UPI) -- The Egyptian government is at risk of erasing many democratic gains made since the 2011 revolution, the U.N. commissioner for human rights said.

Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay said she was concerned that certain laws under consideration by the Egyptian government would curtail the ability of civil organizations to do their work in the country.

"This is a critical moment, with mounting concerns about a range of issues," she said in a statement. If the controversial measures pass, "it will mark a further blow to the hopes and aspirations that were raised during the 2011 Egyptian revolution."

Mohamed Morsi last year became the first democratically elected president in Egyptian history. Since then, he's come under fire for seemingly advancing Islamic principles by promoting his associates from the Muslim Brotherhood.

Pillay said she was concerned that Egyptians laws under Morsi give the presidency too much power, which would undermine the authority and independence of other branches of government.

New Cabinet ministers took office this week as part of a government shake-up promised by Morsi. His critics complained, however, because many of the new ministers were tied to the Muslim Brotherhood.